David Rivera

Mr. RIVERA

Mr. RIVERA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform my colleagues of yet another ruthless murder by the Castro dictatorship in Cuba and the loss of a tremendous hero. Last Friday Laura Pollan, leader of the opposition group Ladies in White, died following another beating by Castro's thugs. For 8 years, Pollan led the Ladies in White, a group of wives, sisters and daughters of the 75 political prisoners arrested during the black spring of 2003. Following the arrest of her husband, Pollan, along with other women dressed simply in white, began organizing weekend marches demanding the release of political prisoners. Following a recent peaceful demonstration, Pollan was hospitalized and suspiciously passed away days later following what the Cuban dictatorship called ``a brief illness.'' Throughout the more than 50-year reign of the Castro dictatorship, suspicious and untimely deaths of healthy opposition leaders are not unheard of. We will never forget Laura Pollan's courage and a struggle for a free and democratic Cuba. She is yet another victim whose blood is on the hands of the Castro brothers.

Mr. RIVERA

Mr. RIVERA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 793 I was unavoidably delayed. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. RIVERA

Mr. RIVERA. Mr. Speaker, this week, in commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month, over 100 distinguished Hispanic American civic, business, and community leaders from south Florida traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive Congressional Distinguished Service Awards from myself, Senator Marco Rubio, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart. These hardworking and patriotic Americans of Hispanic descent represent the positive contributions the Hispanic community has made to this great Nation. Whether serving in the military, creating jobs with small businesses, or simply pursuing the American Dream, Hispanic Americans like my constituents are deserving of recognition for their accomplishments. Two of those honorees who came to the Capitol this week, Ms. Nelis Morales and Mr. Gustavo Garagorry, prepared statements for the occasion. I would like to submit their statements for publication in the Congressional Record. Presidio Politico Cubano I am grateful for this recognition that us an honor and fills me with pride. As a Cuban political prisoner, I represent the International Coordinator of Cuban political prisoners, through the years I have had the opportunity to help both prisoners and ex-prisoners as well as their families, both inside and outside of Cuba, and also to plead for liberty and democracy for the Cuban people. The Cuban political prisoner organizations, without exception, support the project to readjust the Cuban Adjustment Act that has been presented to the U.S. Congress by our congressmen for the state of Florida, David Rivera, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. As a Cuban ex-political prisoner and as a woman, I beg, in front of you who represent the most powerful country in the world in terms of human rights, freedom, and democracy, your help for the poor Cuban nation for whom I will never tire using my voice to support. No more economic help to the Castro-Communist tyranny. No to the cultural interchange. No more aggressions against the Cuban heroines such as Sara Martha Fonseca who represents the Cuban prisoners house in Havana, and Laura Pollan from the heroic ``Damas de Blanco'' or ``Ladies in White''. No to the aggressions against the internal opposition. I beg your help in order to put an end to the slavery of the Cuban people, because after 53 years. . . . for Cuba . . . the time has come! Nelis Rojas Morales.

Mr. RIVERA

Mr. RIVERA. The Colombia free trade agreement represents a critical juncture in our trade relations. It does so because it's about economic security, but it's also about national security. It's about economic security because the Colombia free trade agreement means jobs--thousands of jobs for America. In my community and for our national economy in particular, international commerce is important to creating those jobs. It's also about national security because the Colombia free trade agreement will send a message to our allies, and just as importantly, it will send a message to our enemies. All of Latin America and, indeed, the world will be watching to see if we are going to stand up with our allies--those who are fighting for democracy and who are fighting against narcoterror. Vote ``yes'' on this trade agreement, and stand up for our best ally in Latin America, Colombia. Vote ``yes'' on this agreement, and stand up for jobs in America. Madam Speaker, we have come to a crucial point in the free trade debate. The world is watching. Our best friends and allies in Latin America are watching. Madam Speaker, our enemies are watching. The choice that is presented to us with these trade agreements could not be any clearer. Are we going to stand with our allies? Or are we going to continue turning our back to them? The choice is an easy one to make, and the stakes could not be any higher. Madam Speaker, just as American ingenuity has made our nation the model for developed economies for decades, in an ever more globalized economy, free trade is integral to promoting economic growth, to creating American jobs, and to raising the standard of living in the United States and abroad. At the same time, Colombia is our best and strongest ally in Latin America and the oldest functioning democracy in the region. The Colombian people have a passion to be free and full partners in the global economy and have shown great enthusiasm about trading with the United States. As someone who represents the largest Colombian-American community in the country, I know this first hand. I have seen what the Colombian people have been through over the past two decades and the improvements that have been made in that country. Madam Speaker, Colombia has become a model for success in the region. Colombia is a nation that looks to the United States as its role model and has worked to emulate us in its own legislative, judicial, and social structures. What's more, today Colombia is a nation of people determined to crush the drug trade and break free from the bonds of their difficult past to reclaim their homeland. American aid to Colombia has made it possible for Colombia to upgrade its social infrastructure and improve its schools, health care, and labor laws. There is no more important task before us right now that will help the Colombian people achieve further advancement, than to quickly pass the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. So, Madam Speaker, what does passage of these free trade agreements show to the world? It shows that we will stand by our allies. It shows what the United States values. It shows that we value human rights. It shows that we value democracy. It shows that we value liberty. Colombia has achieved, and continues to achieve, all of those things. Colombia's democracy has withstood terrorism. It has withstood civil war. And Colombia is a pillar of freedom in the region. The more trade and economic benefits the Colombian people receive, the less difficult it becomes for the Colombian government to destroy terrorism and put an end to the illicit drug trade in their country. Madam Speaker, the bottom line is that trade, and this agreement, will create opportunity in Colombia as well as in the United States. This agreement will mean better, high quality jobs for Colombian citizens. It will mean better, high quality jobs for our own citizens; a much-needed boost in this struggling economy. Madam Speaker, let's send a message to our enemies. Let's send a message to our best friends and allies in Latin America. Let's send a message to the world. Let's send the message that America rewards its allies. Let's send the message that America wants to do business with another country that values freedom and democracy. And let's send a message that America will not let political gamesmanship continue to get in the way of improving our nation's economy. In the 112th Congress, both Democrats and Republicans are united and ready to approve the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. Madam Speaker, it's time to pass the Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

Mr. RIVERA

Mr. RIVERA. Madam Speaker, it is with a great sense of honor and pride that I join Congressman Canseco and my fellow Hispanic American Members of Congress in recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month provides us with the opportunity to acknowledge the enormously positive contributions of Hispanic Americans to this diverse Nation of ours. Hispanic Americans are some of the most patriotic and hardworking people that America has ever known. Whether serving in the military or creating jobs, the Hispanic community is the embodiment of the American Dream and the embodiment of American values, faith in God, devotion to family and love of country, which is precisely why Hispanic Heritage Month is an entirely appropriate time to commend the Hispanic American community for enriching the diverse fiber of this great Nation.

Mr. RIVERA

Mr. RIVERA. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. RIVERA. I wish to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky, along with committee staff, for crafting this legislation. The Florida Everglades is one of our Nation's greatest treasures. The Everglades' combination of abundant moisture, rich soils and subtropical temperatures support a vast array of species. However, flood control and reclamation efforts in the 1940s and 1950s manipulated the Everglades' hydrology, redirecting fresh water destined for the Everglades out to sea. The ecosystem has changed because it now receives less water during the dry season and more during the rainy season. It is also harmed by degraded water quality, pollutants from urban areas, and agricultural runoff, including pesticides and excess nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen which have harmed the plant and animal populations. The program under the Corps of Engineers' South Florida Ecosystem Restoration will capture freshwater destined for the sea, the lifeblood of the Everglades, and direct it back to the ecosystem to revitalize it and protect plant and wildlife. However, Everglades restoration is not only about the ecosystem restoration. It is also about boosting Florida's economy. According to a study by Atlanta-based Mather Economics, boosting strained water supplies associated with restoration efforts will save local water treatment facilities $13 billion in the long term. It will provide flood control for south Florida and improve local home values by an estimated $16 billion. Furthermore, a healthier water supply, which will contribute to better fishing grounds, will have a huge positive impact on tourism traffic, which is a key aspect of Florida's economy. Everglades restoration is a huge priority for the Florida congressional delegation, and I respectfully ask the committee and chairman for their continued support in protecting and restoring this great natural resource and economic engine. At this time, I would yield to the gentleman from New Jersey, the chairman of the subcommittee.

Mr. RIVERA. I yield to the gentleman from Washington, the ranking member on the committee.

Mr. RIVERA. Reclaiming my time, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your commitment. I look forward to working with you and the rest of my colleagues in a bipartisan fashion to achieve the goal of restoring water flow in these areas. I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. RIVERA

Mr. RIVERA. I rise today to inform my colleagues of yet another ruthless murder by the Castro dictatorship in Cuba. Last Sunday, Juan Wilfredo Soto Garcia, a dissident leader on the island, was viciously beaten to death by Castro's state security thugs simply for participating in a peaceful protest. Soto belonged to Foro Anti-Totalitario Unido, or the United Anti- Totalitarian Forum, a peaceful dissident organization. Witnesses have attested that two of Castro's henchmen cuffed his hands behind his back and then beat him mercilessly and repeatedly with batons until he was dead. For 30 years, Soto peacefully worked for freedom and change on the island and served 12 years in Castro's political prisons for his pro- democracy advocacy. Last year, Soto stated, ``I hold Cuban state security, the government, and the repressive police here responsible for whatever happens to me in the future.'' This past weekend, he gave the ultimate sacrifice for Cuba's freedom and became yet another victim in the Castro brothers' 50-year reign of terror.

Mr. RIVERA

Mr. RIVERA. I thank the chairman. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of making it policy that the U.N. return the $179 million. The U.S. is the United Nation's largest financial supporter. We pay most of the costs of U.N. peacekeeping operations, we pay for most of its security costs, and now the Obama administration refuses to let the United Nations pay us back. Just one example: in 2005, then-U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan acknowledged the core failings of the U.N. Human Rights Council by stating that the countries who sought membership on the Human Rights Council did so not to strengthen human rights, but to protect themselves against criticism. This is still the case today as some of the world's worst terrorist regimes and enemies of freedom and individual liberty, including Cuba and China, hold powerful seats on the Human Rights Commission. The U.N. needs to reform. It is time to end their dependency on the U.S. They should be an organization for peace, human rights, and freedom across the world.

Mr. RIVERA

Mr. RIVERA. Madam Speaker, I rise today for the first time to address the House and express my strong support for passage of a free trade agreement with Colombia. Colombia is America's fourth-largest trading partner in Latin America, and the U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that 9,000 American companies trade with Colombia, most of which are small businesses and many of which operate in my district in south Florida. While 90 percent of Colombian goods enter the U.S. duty free, American companies still pay tariffs for U.S. goods to enter Colombia. The Colombia Free Trade Agreement would eliminate obstacles and immediately boost U.S. exports to Colombia. By passing a free trade agreement with Colombia, U.S. GDP would increase by roughly $2.5 billion and exports by over $1 billion, creating thousands of jobs in the United States. The Colombia Free Trade Agreement is also a positive foreign policy gesture to one of our most reliable allies in the region and the oldest continuously functioning democracy in all of South America. Madam Speaker, it's time to stand with one of our best allies in Latin America and create thousands of jobs here at home with passage of a Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

Mr. RIVERA

Mr. RIVERA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 8 I was unavoidably delayed. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''